Feeling very weary...

It was a busy week. Visitation for Mitch on Wednesday and the funeral on Friday. Mitch had lived his whole life in Lansing and had been a successful small businessman. He was also part of a large and wonderful Christian Lebanese family. Both the funeral home and church were overflowing with mourners.

He was a good man, a man with a soft heart. In looking at the pictures on display I was reminded of how my niece and nephew would have birthday parties at his house. Mitch would give all the kids a hay ride in a trailer he pulled behind his tractor. To make the ride a real adventure he would take them through heavily overgrown, uncut areas of grass on his property. Somehow, one year, my Mary got scared on the ride. The next year, all teary-eyed, she said she didn't want to go on the hayride any more. When Mitch found out what the problem was he offered to let her sit up front with him and help drive the tractor. She happily agreed to that offer and every year after that she sat up front with him, happy to be part of the fun.

One of Mitch's niece's told of when she was very young and had gotten hold of her mother's perfume. She poured half a bottle on herself. All the relatives were commenting on how awful she smelled. But Mitch sat down right next to her without a word. When he was invited to come eat with the others in the next room he said that no, he wanted to sit with Renee.

Such a caring man. Sometimes we don't realize how little acts of kindness can have an enormous impact on those around us. I'm sure Mitch didn't think much about these two incidents. And I'm sure there were many others. He was simply a man with a kind and loving heart. That was how he lived.

Today we drove back to Lansing to see my nephew Mitch play in a basketball tournament. His team won and what a joy it was to see him play. He's very skilled and really leads the team.

Now I'm making a birthday cake for my future son-in-law whose birthday we will celebrate tomorrow, after I return from working at the open house at Liz's school. Busy, busy day. And I'm already tired. It'll be OK. Nothing that a good night's sleep won't fix.

Hope you're all having a good weekend.